ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Tuesday Aug 3, 2021

Morne Steyn set for comeback while Boks miss two key players

South Africa will be without key flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk for the deciding Test against the British & Irish Lions on Saturday as coach Jacques Nienaber was forced into making three changes to his team.

ADVERTISEMENT

Franco Mostert moves from lock to the side of the scrum to replace Du Toit, who was injured inside the opening 20 minutes of Saturday’s 27-9 victory that levelled the series at 1-1.

Lood de Jager, who made a massive impact off the bench in that fixture, takes over from Mostert in the second row.

Cobus Reinach has not featured in the series yet but replaces De Klerk, with Herschel Jantjies again on the bench despite coming on for De Klerk in the first two games.

Reinach’s greater experience of having played in England likely got him the nod from the start.

WATCH: Kolbe’s clumsy head-on-head with Tom Curry which angered fans

South Africa have deviated from their preferred 6-2 split on the bench between forwards and backs and this time will have three backline players among the replacements, including flyhalf Morne Steyn who kicked the Boks to victory in the 2009 series against the Lions.

“This is a massive Test for us with the series on the line, so it was important for us to maintain consistency in selection following on last week’s performance,” Nienaber said in a statement.

“Cobus is an experienced player with a calm head and who can handle pressure and we believe he will be able to dictate play well alongside Handre Pollard.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I am delighted for Morne – he is a world class player and his work ethic and positive attitude on and off the field since joining the team in (a training camp in) Bloemfontein has been impressive.

“He can also perform under extreme pressure, as he shown for the Springboks and the Bulls, and that skill will be invaluable in such a vital Test.”

RELATED: Kyle Sinckler biting citing dismissed due to lack of clear evidence 

The tempestuous series has involved plenty of needle and Nienaber is expecting the same on Saturday.

“We are preparing for a physical encounter and we know that every small battle will count if we want to win the series,” he said.

“This match is as important to us as it is for the Lions, so we know it is going to be tight and we will have to capitalise on every opportunity we have to score points and be effective in every area of our game.”

ADVERTISEMENT

SPRINGBOK TEAM: 

Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Herschel Jantjies, Morne Steyn, Damian Willemse.

Video Spacer

Comments




Related Articles

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Ellis Genge puts on his boxing gloves ready...

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    RFU make decision on transgender players...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji number eight Viliame 'Bill' Mata scores audacious try

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Wild scenes in Toulouse as Portugal seal last gasp comeback win over Fiji

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    South African schoolboy produces the greatest goosey in the sport

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Monster hit from Perrin leaves Bristol Bears player stunned

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Posolo Tuilagi's massive tackle lights up Top 14

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Theo Dan in the centre of 'punch' storm as possible infringement missed

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Compilation video shows Jamie George's surprising box of tricks

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Eddie Jones reported to have negotiated return to Japan national side

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Rees Zammit hits Olympic level as 100m sprint time is officially finally released

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Shocking record set to be broken at this year’s World Cup

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

View All

Funnies

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Luke Cowan-Dickie left red faced after losing very costly bet

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen proves once again that he is a hero in Ireland

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Irish players brilliantly take the p*** out of Sexton on plane intercom

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Brilliant video of Andy Farrell readying the Irish troops for battle

View All

Amateur

  • 47 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 47 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    James Haskell shares thoughts on 'best mate' Owen Farrell

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    The key change Steve Borthwick has made to England squad selection

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Siya Kolisi opens up about stabbing incident in powerful interview with Dan Biggar

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    BREAKING: Owen Farrell to step away from England duties entirely

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Community mourning loss of 29-year-old rugby player Melita Williams

View All